The Unmarried and the Widowed

25 Now concerning[a] the betrothed,[b] (A)I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as (B)one who by the Lord's mercy is (C)trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present[c] distress (D)it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman[d] marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: (E)the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy (F)as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For (G)the present form of this world is passing away.

32 I want you to be (H)free from anxieties. (I)The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, (J)not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed,[e] if his[f] passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed (K)does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

39 (L)A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only (M)in the Lord. 40 Yet (N)in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think (O)that I too have the Spirit of God.

Food Offered to Idols

Now concerning[g] (P)food offered to idols: we know that (Q)“all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” (R)puffs up, (S)but love builds up. (T)If anyone imagines that he knows something, (U)he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, (V)he is known by God.[h]

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that (W)“an idol has no real existence,” and that (X)“there is no God but one.” For although there may be (Y)so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet (Z)for us there is one God, the Father, (AA)from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and (AB)one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and (AC)through whom we exist.

However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, (AD)through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and (AE)their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (AF)Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care (AG)that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block (AH)to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating[i] in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged,[j] if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is (AI)destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers[k] and (AJ)wounding their conscience when it is weak, (AK)you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, (AL)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:25 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:25 Greek virgins
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or impending
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:28 Greek virgin; also verse 34
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Greek virgin; also verses 37, 38
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or her
  7. 1 Corinthians 8:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
  8. 1 Corinthians 8:3 Greek him
  9. 1 Corinthians 8:10 Greek reclining at table
  10. 1 Corinthians 8:10 Or fortified; Greek built up
  11. 1 Corinthians 8:12 Or brothers and sisters

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